Category Archives: Italy

Lest We Forget

One cannot face November 11th without thinking of the year 1918, when the guns in Europe went silent for what was thought would be the very last time. I doubt there is one among you who can seriously claim to … Continue reading

Posted in 1901 Census, 1910 US Census, 1911 Census, Birth, Death, Emigration, England, Genealogy, Italy, Killed In Action, Ships, United States, War | Leave a comment

Piecing together my Italian great-grandmother’s (huge) family

Well, here I am, safe and sound, back in the real world for a change, and what a genealogical experience Italy has been! This was of course the second time my father and I ventured forth  and north in search … Continue reading

Posted in 1910 US Census, Birth, Death, Emigration, Genealogy, Italy, Killed In Action, United States, War | 4 Comments

The first Ronquete

Up until a couple of years ago, I had always been struck by the odd-sounding last name of my grandmother’s paternal grandfather, Miguel Ronquete. This unusual, very un-Spanish surname always seemed to me rather mysterious, particularly as most of the … Continue reading

Posted in Death, Emigration, France, Galicia, Genealogy, Italy, Santiago de Compostela, Ships, Spain, War | Leave a comment

Understanding Passenger Lists

Genealogy can provide us a lot more than a mere list of names and dates plunging back endlessly into History. In an interview I recently read, a professional genealogist expressed her opinion that she prefers to investigate personal details about … Continue reading

Posted in 1910 US Census, Death, Emigration, Engagement, Genealogy, Italy, Marriage, Ships, United States | Leave a comment

The Best Father’s Day Gift Ever: Seeing Your Father For The First Time

You will all remember the exciting piece of news last Christmas when, thanks to my distant cousin Anne, in England, and her cousin Michele in America, we discovered my grandfather had a younger half-sister who still lives in New York … Continue reading

Posted in Emigration, Genealogy, Illegitimacy, Italy, Spain, United States, War | 1 Comment

Mombaruzzo, where it all started

The small, provincial town of Mombaruzzo lies quietly on a small hilltop at the foot of the Italian Alps, and is surrounded by dense forests and seemingly endless fields of vineyards. Once a part of the old Duchy of Monferrato, … Continue reading

Posted in Emigration, Genealogy, Italy, United States | 2 Comments

The Family of Edgar Degas: genealogy through portraits

Having a painter in the family before the age of photography must have been a comfortable and convenient method of perpetuating one’s portrait into posterity. At least, that is what one can appreciate when analyzing French impressionist painter Edgar Degas‘s … Continue reading

Posted in Famous Genealogy, France, Genealogy, Italy, Louisiana | 1 Comment

Ships in my family history

Ships are an essential part of any family who was compelled to emigrate before the dawn of the age of aeroplanes. Coming from a seaside town, I have always felt a close affinity with the sea, a deep-rooted feeling of … Continue reading

Posted in Death, Emigration, England, Galicia, Genealogy, Germany, Italy, Killed In Action, Ships, Spain, United States, War | 11 Comments

Titanic victim’s niece survives Concordia disaster

Like many of you out there, I am utterly stunned by the amazingly horrific images of the recent Costa Concordia disaster off the Island of Giglio, on the western coast of Italy. The footage showing the ship gradually listing to … Continue reading

Posted in Death, England, Genealogy, Italy, Ships, United States | 2 Comments

Finding Aunty Rita

Two days ago, genealogy came to life. Less than two weeks ago, you’ll remember, I posted about a recent discovery we made, concerning my grandfather’s younger half-sister, Rita. Through a distant English cousin of mine, Anne (related to us through … Continue reading

Posted in Birth, Death, Emigration, Genealogy, Italy, United States | 1 Comment